Occupational Therapy News OTnews November 2019 | Page 32

FEATURE STUDENT EDUCATION
32 OTnews November 2019
Walking away has seen her having to relocate,
struggle financially and be away from her friends
and family, leaving her emotionally and physically
depleted.’
With her permission, Lisa shares her feedback on
the event:
‘After being in a marriage for 36 years I found
myself divorced and unhappy. It was through the
[domestic violence charity] that I put my name forward
after contact from yourselves about your project. The
pamper session was just what I needed as I was so low
and down, and had no money to spare.
‘It gave me something to look forward to and the
treatments were first class. I had a lovely relaxing
massage followed by a pedicure and manicure, plus
tea and cakes, and I walked out of there feeling like
myself again. The next day I couldn’t stop talking
about it. I cannot thank you enough for arranging it.’
Lisa concludes: ‘I found this project inspirational
and I am so very grateful to have had the opportunity
to make such a difference to the wellbeing of some
very deserving individuals.
‘I chose occupational therapy because I wanted
a career that allows me to support positive change
in the lives of individuals in all aspects and I feel that
having the opportunity to set up a community project
has been a fabulous starting point for my career, not
least because it supports the widely discussed shift
from occupational therapists working in mainstream
healthcare services to being present in non-traditional
community settings.’
Lisa Eagles, occupational therapy student,
Canterbury Christ Church University
‘As their treatments finished, they were coming and
chatting to us about how they felt. It was so rewarding
to see these ladies that had arrived looking nervous
and anxious, to leave beaming from ear to ear and
telling us how very grateful they were.’
Unfortunately the second event was more
‘disappointing’, Lisa says, as a number of participants
did not arrive. ‘Talk among the participants indicated
that this could be because of the social anxiety
currently still being experienced by many of the
survivors.
‘Again, the participants that did come along were
initially nervous, but quickly relaxed with thanks to the
salon staff.’
The students had created a short questionnaire for
participants to complete at the end of the day, where
they were asked to rate their mood prior to and after
the event, using one as ‘very low in mood’ and 10 as
‘very happy’.
‘Results showed that the average was three prior to
the event,’ Lisa says, ‘indicating that most participants
were low in mood, and 10 after the event. This
supported our research and helped us to conclude that
social and emotional wellbeing were positively affected
by our project.’
She adds: ‘The salon managers and domestic
violence organisation’s staff were all equally as pleased
with the outcome and we ensured they each received
the other’s contact details, so that this is something
they could continue to collaborate in and take forward.
‘We received many messages from the
participants after the events ran, but one that
particularly struck a chord was from an amazing lady
who had spent many years in an abusive relationship.